Standard Disclaimers Apply

Price of Innocence

"A C?" Yuffie practically yelled at Tifa. "I worked so hard for that essay and I only got a C!"

Tifa and Cloud winced as Yuffie continued to complain. "Come on, Yuffie. I heard that your professor is really hard to please."

"Yeah, and hey, my friend had her last year, and the highest mark she ever gave her students was a C-.

It's just the first essay, how much does it weigh?"

"Twenty percent, but that's not the point. I could loose my scholarship. I have to stay at least on a B to be safe, any more than that and I could have my scholarship revoked.!"

Cloud looked at Yuffie as she looked at her essay, as if looking at it long enough could change her mark. "Why don't you ask Vincent for help?" He asked, completely unaware of Tifa as she tried to catch his attention. "He tutored you in chemistry, right? I'm sure he'd be happy to help.. OUCH!"

Tifa glared at her boyfriend as she gave him one last kick under the table. "It's only the start of the sem right? I'm sure you can still pull your average up."

Yuffie frowned, still disturbed at Cloud's suggestion /Over my dead body am I going to ask him for help!/ "You're right, Tifa. I'll have to do better next time."

Cloud, now realizing the error of his suggestion nodded. "Yeah, if anyone can cram like hell and come out on top, it's you."

"Thanks, Cloud." Yuffie replied dryly as the blond smiled that idiotic smile of his. "Anyway. Better start that cramming now, I'll meet you guys later at the mansion?"

Tifa nodded as she gave Yuffie an encouraging hug. "You need a lift?"

"Nah. I've got my car... I'll be alright."

"Are you sure? It will be the first time that you won't have any of your bodyguards around you?" Tifa asked concerned that her Uncle Godo pulled Yuffie's security team, especially since he was so angry about Tseng's re-appearance in Yuffie's life.

Yuffie snorted. "I'm in campus, Tifa. What could possibly go wrong?"

A few hours later, Yuffie wanted to scream as she looked at her flat tire, a tire that was slashed, just like the dozen cars in the parking lot. "This has got to be a joke!"

"Tell me about it!" An angry blond cried out behind her. "I just got these new tires a week ago!"

She was surrounded by her fellow students, cursing and screaming in anger and frustration. She took her PHS from her bag and debated if she should call Shake. "Great time to be independent, Yuffie." She muttered to herself as she dialled Shake's number, only to be greeted by a busy signal.

"Unbelievable!" Yuffie closed her eyes as she looked at some of the students who was deciding to catch the shuttle bus, it was too late to lodge a complaint, and none of them had faith in the campus security. She took one last look at her car before following the other students.

The ride was short, and soon, Yuffie found herself outside the main campus with two other students from one of her tutorials. They saw her waiting for the shuttle bus, and united by similar situation, they got talking.

"I can't believe you managed a C!" Amelia Cage exclaimed. "The highest my brother ever got was a C-!"

Jack Wells agreed. "Yeah. I was lucky to scrape a C. I still can't believe it."

"Well, at least the day's over. I'm still pissed about what happened to my car! I had to beg my parents to buy me one. Where the hell was campus security?"

"Who knows?" Jack grumbled. "Anyway, I'm about to meet some friends at the Blue Pavillion for some drinks, it'll be great if you two can join. We can all complain about the unfairness of Professor Jenova."

"I'm in. Yuffie?"

"I'm not eighteen yet."

"That's cool. I know the bouncer... trust me, he'll let you in."

Yuffie looked at Amelia, as she tried to decide what to do. If she went home this early, she'd probably bump into Lucrecia and Vincent since the two have been meeting with Godo practically everyday. That simple thought gave Yuffie the incentive to accept their invitation. She'd never been into a bar before, and she'd never been invited out to be part of a group either.

She smiled. "Sure, I just need to let my cousin know."

"You're where?"

Cloud winced at Tifa's voice.

"The Blue Pavillion? That's a club, Yuffie! You're still seventeen!" Tifa yelled, and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. "Fine, but you'd better be outside at 10. Cloud and I will pick you up. NO arguments!"

Tifa ended the call and turned to Cloud. "I changed my mind, we're going there right now."

"Don't you think you're going overboard?"

"Cloud, she's seventeen! Who knows what kind of trouble she'll get into?"

Cloud placed his hands on Tifa's shoulders and massaged them, hoping to calm his girlfriend. "Who's she with?"

"Some people from her class. She's out with people she doesn't know."

"She's not a kid anymore. Yuffie can take care of herself. She's not exactly defenceless."

"But..."

"Tifa, you know what kind of a loner Yuffie was when she was younger. I like Yuffie, I don't mind that she hangs around with us, don't you think it will be good for Yuffie to go out and have friends? Maybe

It will do her good, you know..."

Tifa nodded. Although there was a nagging feeling inside of her that was screaming for her to bring Yuffie home. Against her better judgement, she ignored her 'female intuition', something that Cloud always made fun of. "You're right. Cloud. I guess I've just gotten so used to Yuffie being with us."

"Hey, it will be okay. Besides, We're going to pick her up. She'll be fine."

Fine was not a word to describe Yuffie Kisaragi. She was completely bored. She was surrounded by

drunks, and she wanted nothing more than to get out of this place, but she was worried about Amelia. The girl was absolutely in high spirits, dancing with some of the people she just met. Jack was nowhere to be found, and so she was stuck, alone in their table.

"Fancy meeting you here, sugar."

Yuffie groaned at the now familiar voice. "You."

Reno grinned as he took the seat next to Yuffie. "Hey, babe."

"I have a name, and it's not babe, or sugar."

"Well then, what's your name?"

"None of your business."

"Pleased to meet you. Miss none of your business."

Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Don't you have anywhere else to go?"

"No," Reno replied as he caught the attention of one of the bartender and signalled for a beer. "What brings a kid like you here? You don't look old enough to be here."

"And you look to old to be here." Yuffie snapped, annoyed at the red head who just had the habit of popping out of nowhere.

Reno laughed as his beer was delivered. "Good comeback, babe."

"Will you stop calling me that?" Yuffie exclaimed as she strained her neck as she tried to keep Amelia in her line of vision. Reno smirked as he watched Yuffie.

"It's not fun just watching, why don't you join the action?"

Yuffie turned to look at Reno who looked to comfortable seating right next to her. "I'm just making sure that Amelia's fine."

"Amelia? Friend of yours?"

"Not exactly, but I'm not about to leave her drunk when she could easily be taken advantaged of."

Reno laughed. "Babe, you ain't her keeper. You think she'll listen to you if you try to help her?"

"Will you stop calling me babe!"

"I will if you tell me your name. Come on, You nearly crashed my car, you bump into me, and now... it's a sign." Reno replied. "Babe." he added with a rakish grin.

Yuffie simply looked at Reno in disbelief. "I nearly crashed into your car? YOU nearly ran me over, you idiotic red head!"

"Name's Reno, babe."

"Whatever." Yuffie retorted as she saw Amelia being dragged to a dark corner by a guy who looked too shifty. "Hey!"

Reno watched as Yuffie followed her friend. Not exactly working like he planned, but he had more things in store. No way he was loosing this bet.

"Amelia!" Yuffie cried out, but the music was too loud, and she doubt if Amelia could hear her is she was that wasted. "Hey! Let her go!"

The man ignored Yuffie as he continued to drag an almost unconscious girl.

She finally caught up to them and grabbed Amelia's wrist and pulled the girl away from the man. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Hey, if you wanted to join the party, all you have to do is say so." The man sneered as he grabbed Yuffie's waist. "I've got time for both of you."

Yuffie's eyes narrowed as she pushed the man away. "Stay away from me, you freak."

"Who you calling a freak?" He demanded as he moved closer again and tried to touch Yuffie's face. "You're cute for a skinny brat."

"I said stay away from me!" Yuffie demanded as she took a step back, trying to keep Amelia from falling. If she got into a fight now, she would have to drop the girl on the floor, no way she could fight the big thug if she was going to be holding on to the girl.

"I feel sick." Amelia muttered, and Yuffie made a mistake of taking her eyes away from the man to check on Amelia.

"You okay?"

Amelia never had a chance to reply as they were separated. Yuffie winced as she was slammed against the wall. "Big mistake, buddy. Big mistake!" Yuffie muttered as she prepared to strike back, only to be stopped by a cool, calculating voice.

"That wasn't nice."

Yuffie and the man turned to see Reno who was standing a few feet away, a cocky smile on his face.

"Reno..." The man gulped in fear. "What are you doing here?"

The redhead glared at the man before replying. "Are you asking me to explain my presence?"

"No... no, of course not! I was just surprised to see you here, that's all." The man hastily explained as he looked for an exit.

"Well, I believe you owe the lady an apology."

"Sorry... I'm sorry!" The man bowed as he scrambled away, and Yuffie could only look disgust at the way the man ran away.

"You okay?"

"I could have handled him, thank you very much."

"No problem." Reno replied with a smile as Yuffie checked on Amelia. "She gonna be okay?"

Yuffie sighed as she picked up the fallen girl and slung Amelia's arms around her shoulders. "Hope so."

"My dad is going to kill me." Amelia muttered as she felt the world spin beneath her. "I'm going to die."

"You'll be fine." Yuffie replied as she helped Amelia sit up straight. "How will you get home?"

"My brother..." Amelia groaned. "Said he'd pick me up at ten."

Yuffie nodded. Same time as she was going to get picked up. She looked at her watch and looked in relief at the time. "That's not long now, come on. We'll get you freshened up."

"Here, drink this."

Both girls turned around and looked at Reno who was holding a glass of green liquid. "Trust me."

Amelia grabbed the glass and drank the contents in one gulp. "That's ugly..."

"Yeah, but it will clear your head in an hour or two."

Amelia nodded and closed her eyes. Yuffie sighed as she looked at Reno. "Who was that jackass?"

"That? No one. Some bum."

Yuffie looked at Reno with suspicious eyes. "He sure knows you."

Reno grinned maliciously. "Let's just say he owed me a dollar or two."

"Whatever." Yuffie muttered under her breath as she helped Amelia stand up. "Let's go. Your brother's probably down there now."

She gave Reno one last glance before walking away with Amelia. The girl looked behind her and watched Reno with fear. He simply watched her and Yuffie, with that look of total arrogance. She felt sick, not because of the alcohol, she wasn't even really drunk. She wished Yuffie Kisaragi wasn't so nice, then she wouldn't feel like a bitch for setting her up. But Reno asked, no, Reno demanded that she go along with his plan. She shuddered as she looked away, his warning still clear in her mind.

/You tell her one thing, and your dad will get a nasty little package. Wouldn't want daddy to know what his princess was up to, right?/

"I'm so sorry, Yuffie."

Yuffie smiled. "Hey, no problem."

Amelia tried not to cry, afraid of what Reno has planned for Yuffie. /I'm so sorry..../

End Chapter.